This album presents music for celebrations and church services on Biak Island in Irian Jaya (which lies off the north coast of the main island of New Guinea). Wor ("songs"), usually sung by choruses in a seemingly chaotic, free-for-all style, were once central to traditional Biak society. Two other genres have recently developed: church songs, sung here by women's choirs in churches and in secular performances; and yospan, string-based music for dance parties.

This "monumental and enjoyable series" (New York Times) documents the music of the Indonesian archipelago, introducing dozens of beautiful and varied musical styles from throughout this complex island nation. Guitars and gamelans, flutes and drums, voices and brass bands contribute to a musical treasure trove that covers the gamut from ancient to popular roots-based urban music. Each hour-long CD is extensively annotated to place the performances in their regional and national contexts.

"Music which could never before have been heard except by those few individuals who took the time and trouble to visit these mostly remote areas and had the good fortune to be able to witness the special occasions on which these pieces were normally performed…. One feels a kind of quiet joy in beholding this 20-disc compilation: first, because so much has been preserved, and second, because 'folk' music in Indonesia seems to be as active, prestigious, and vital a part of local cultures as it ever has been."—Journal of Southeast Asian Studies

The folk music archives that form the wellspring of these Smithsonian recordings are truly incomparable. Encompassing a wide variety of styles, they reflect the heart, soul, and backbone of the American experience as well as indigenous music from around the world. Folkways' impeccable sound and documentation does these artists proud, setting their work off as the treasure it is.